Not just a mom

I came across this story quite a few years back and I like to read it from time to time.

- Not "Just a Mom"- By Author Unknown

A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a...

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Is it my dad or is it Gandalf?

I took this photo of my dad the other day at my house while we were decorating pumpkins with the kids and it reminded me of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. You can see they look a lot alike!

Provocation of the mind

If you cut corners, your children will too.
If you lie, they will too.
If you spend all your money on yourselves and tithe no portion of it for charities, colleges, churches, synagogues, and civic causes,your children won't either.
And if you snicker at racial and gender jokes, another generation will pass on the poison adults still have not had the courage to snuff out.
--Marian Wright

I have been coming across a lot of thought provoking quotes lately and this is one of them that I wanted to share. Now more than ever I am seeing the disrespect for religion, race and hard work. That really is not the type of behavior I want for my children. Upon coming across this quote, I have come to a better decision to try harder, not only for myself but for my children to do my part at making this world a better place. If not parents setting the standards then who? They spend so much of thier lives looking up to us and testing thier boundaries to see how far they can go and look to us to save them and bring them back to the straight and narrow. I hope my children can see what a hard working father they have and respect that. I hope they can see the life that we dedicate to God. I hope they can understand the respect for other peoples feelings, thoughts and freedoms. All these things fall to us parents to teach these children and I commit to being the best teacher that I can.

Stinkin CUTE!

So I was just surfing the web and I found the cutest aprons EVER! Think I am gonna try to make one. The pattern can be found pretty much anywhere and I have seen a range from $9-$11. It's called the Emmeline Apron.

What happens when the kids find the camera?

So this first one was a good attempt at a "self" portrait. Chandler style.
Definatly have no idea who took this one heh I was napping with Preston as you can see. That had to be nearly a year ago.

Hallies little pinky..just in case she loses it one day I suppose =D

They sure do like thier extreme close ups! Lucky! you get to see Becca caught with Icing face!

I think that's Chandlers shirt

Here's Grandpa from the grandkids point of view.

And last but not least another point of view picture looking at the cute lil piggies!

House for sale!

I put this together to try to "show" the house for potential buyers. Check it out and tell me what you think.

http://ephraimhome.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Jack-O'-Lantern

Jack-o'-Lanterns
People had been carving gourds or pumpkins and using them as lanterns long before this practice was associated with Halloween. In 1850, for example, poet John Greenleaf Whittier mentioned the practice of his boyhood in "The Pumpkin": "When wild, ugly faces were carved in its skin, glaring out through the dark with a candle within!"
We don't know exactly when and why these lanterns became associated with Halloween in particular, though we do know it was in North America. But by the start of the 20th century, the connection was firmly established.

The name "Jack-o'-lantern" has changed in meaning several times. It was first recorded as a nickname for a night watchman, dating back to 1663. Around the same time, it was used as another name for a will-o'-the-wisp. It began to be used for pumpkin lanterns sometime in the 19th century. It's possible that the name simply went from the night watchman (a man holding a lantern) to the lantern itself.
On the other hand, an Irish legend tells of a miserly man named Jack who, while alive, tricked the Devil into agreeing not to take him into Hell. Upon his death, St. Peter wouldn't let Jack into Heaven, because he had been too stingy and sinful. The Devil wouldn't let him into Hell because of the deal they'd made. Jack was condemned to wander between Heaven and Hell with his lantern, looking for a place to rest and never finding one.

Sprouts & Tomatoes

Ok this was the weirdest thing I have ever seen in the entirety of my life. Okay maybe not the weirdest because the children do some rather odd things but I rank this way up there..Perhaps number 3. I was making some deli sandwiches for Jake and myself yesterday for lunch and I began to slice a tomato that I had just purchased from the store. After the first slice falls to the cutting board I look at it and there is something small and long in the areas that the seeds would have been and there I go thinking...OH MY STARS! There's worms in this tomato I JUST bought this?! Lo and Behold...Not worms...But SPROUTS! I continue slicing...This thing is infested with sprouts. Now how in the world did that happen? You tell me..I didn't eat it. It weirded me out too much. I think I was in shock.

Hands-off, kid. That food is mine!

I have a problem. I don't like to share. Actually, let me get specific here. I don't like to share my food. With my daughters, my son or my husband. Well, with anyone, really. Yeah, I know, I should have learned how to do this, oh, 20 years ago. And I know it's not a good example for my children, but I just can't help it.
You may be wondering, what is with this crazy woman? Here's the skinny. I'm nursing. I feel like I am already sharing so much with one person, when I finally get to sit down and eat something myself, the idea of sharing before AND after my meal just makes me, well, not want to share. Thankfully I haven't rubbed off on my kids. They are awesome at sharing thier food especially Hallie. She always offers us bites of whatever she has, even if it's a special treat she loves. She doesn't think twice about it. Then, over here on the other side of the kitchen table, you have ME. The food hoarder. The famished, snarling, defensive monster that is a hungry nursing mother.
Intellectually I know I should be sharing and I know I'm being one super-duper example for my daughter. But every time I sit down to eat and suddenly have a 4-year-old (who has already eaten her own meal) hovering and begging for bites, I just get bugged. You know it's getting bad when your kid asks for BROCCOLI and you share it begrudgingly. Normally I'd be doing cartwheels if she asked for more veggies, no matter whose plate those veggies were on. But, I'm hungry! And that's MY broccoli!
Yeah, yeah, sharing is the nice thing to do. If everyone in this world shared, what a wonderful world it would be. But I think nursing moms should get a free pass. And if you disagree, then I'm going to eat your food, too. =D